The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon Dr. Kyle Keimer Macquarie University

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon Introduction The United Monarchy in Text The United Monarchy in Archaeology Methodological Considerations Integrating the Text and Archaeology: Jerusalem as a Case Study Conclusions

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon The United Monarchy in Text Date of Historical Authorship: Writing: Date: ? 10-6th c BC? Ca.1040-970 BC • 1 Samuel 8 - 2 Samuel 24 ? 10-6th c BC? Ca.970-930 BC • 1 Kings 1 - 1 Kings 12 ? 4th c BC? Ca.1040-930 BC • 1 Chronicles 10 - 2 Chronicles 9

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The United Monarchy in Text 1 Sam 8 A Call for a Monarchy 1 Sam 9 - 1 Sam 31 the Reign of Saul 2 Sam 1 - 1 Kgs 2:11 the Reign of David 1 Kgs 2:12 - 11:43 the Reign of Solomon 1 Kgs 12 Collapse of the United Monarchy

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The United Monarchy in Text - the Reign of David 2 Samuel 1 – 1Kings 2:11 • Conquers J erusalem (1000 BC) [2 S am. 5:6-10] • David builds palace in J erusalem [5:11 – 12] – Hiram of Tyre supplies David with timber and craftsmen • Wars against the Philistines [5:17 – 25; 8:1] • Creates territorial state; defeats… – Moabites [8:2] – Arameans of Zobah led by Hadadezer [8:3f.] – Arameans of Damascus [8:5 – 8] – Hamath pays tribute [8:9f.] – Edomites [8:13f.] – Ammonites [10:1 – 14; 11:1] – Amalekites [8:12] • Attempted coup d’etat by Absalom [16:15 – 18:18] • More wars against Philistines [21:15 – 22]

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The United Monarchy in Text - the Reign of Solomon I Kings 2:12 – 11:43 • Marries pharaoh’s daughter (= treaty) •Receives Gezer as dowry of Pharaoh’s daughter • Administration and taxation • Establishes 12 administrative districts (minus J udah) • Taxes in kind; cf. lines of tribal divisions • Neighboring states pay tribute • Enters into trade and treaty relations with Hiram of Tyre • Cedar and craftsmen from Lebanon to Israel • Wheat, oil, and conscripted laborers from Israel to Lebanon • Maritime venture with Hiram of Tyre • Bestows 20 towns in Galilee to Hiram of Tyre • Builder: • Temple (967 – 960) and Palace (960 – 947) in J erusalem • Builds and fortifies settlements • Acquires chariots, horses, and resources

Did I actually exist? If so, was I as great as Textual Reasons for Disputes about the UM everyone says? 1. Lack of chronological anchors in the biblical material 2. Debate over numbers: symbolic or literal? 3. Understanding of the semantic range of words for political and social structures 4. Uncertainty of the authorship and date of composition of the biblical texts 5. Uncertainty of the historicity of the biblical portrayal of the United Monarchy: Ideal vs. Real

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon The United Monarchy in Archaeology Iron Age I Iron Age IIA 1200-1000 BC 1000-925 BC • Bible and Archaeology ca. 1130-930 ca. 930-830/800 • Low Chronology ca. 1180-980 ca. 980-830 • Modified Conventional Chronology

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon The United Monarchy in Archaeology Traditional : 1000-925 BC Based on Biblical Text: Period of the United Monarchy Aharoni and Amiran : 1000-840 BC End date based on changes in ceramic forms, particularly cooking pots Compromised date based on various views of ceramic changes NEAEHL : 1000-900 BC Based on changes in the material culture, particularly ceramics Barkay : 1000-800 BC Based on changes in the material culture, particularly ceramics* Modified Conventional Chronology : ca. 980 - ca. 840/30 BC Based on ambiguous ancient sources and comparison of relative strata* Low Chronology : ca. 925-905 - 845/800 BC Herzog and Singer-Avitz (2004 & 2006) : Early Iron IIa (950-900/880 Based on changes in the ceramics BC) and Late Iron IIa (900/880-800 BC)

Did I actually exist? If so, was I as great as Archaeological Reasons for Disputes about the UM everyone says? 1. Lack of chronological anchors in the archaeological material 2. Debate over which historical events created chronological anchors in the archaeological material 3. Understanding of political and social structures (including the nature of both the governing authority and how power is rationalized) 4. Gradual and regional change in ceramics 5. Uncertainty of correlating specific structures to specific biblical kings 6. Flattened Radiocarbon curve

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon Methodological Considerations • Modern Interpretive Bias (with Texts and Archaeology) Evolutionary/Linear/Functionalist/etc. • Understanding Ancient Socio-Political Structures Bureaucratic vs. Patrimonial • Understanding Ancient Economies One Economy or Many? Capitalist or not? • Understanding Spatial Realities Territoriality and Borders

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon - Methodological Considerations Understanding Ancient Socio-Political Structures Evolutionary Approach Band Tribe Chiefdom State “Primitive” “Civilized” Multilineal Approach Key considerations: rationalization, environment, religion, ideology Band Tribe Chiefdom State

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon - Methodological Considerations Understanding Ancient Socio-Political Structures Rationalization of Power (according to Weber) Charismatic : “resting on devotion to the exceptional sanctity, heroism or exemplary character of an individual person, and of the normative patterns or order revealed or ordained by him.” Traditional : “resting on an established belief in the sanctity of immemorial traditions and the legitimacy of those exercising authority under them.” Legal-Rational : “resting on an established belief in the legality of enacted rules and the right of those elevated to authority under such rules to issue commands.” The United Israelite Monarchy is characterized by Charismatic and Traditional rationalizations of power How is this reflected in the archaeology?

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon - Methodological Considerations Understanding Ancient Socio-Political Structures Rationalization of power is NOT a guaranteed indicator of social structure, and vice versa Tribal societies can have monarchs. States can be tribal in nature The key is the nested concept of society

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon - Methodological Considerations Understanding Ancient Socio-Political Structures Heb. beney Israel Israel (= Nation) Heb. shebet/mateah Naphtali Asher Zebulun Levi Issachar Judah Reuben Ephraim (= Tribe) Simeon Gad Manasseh Benjamin Dan Clan Clan Heb. mishpacha Clan Clan Clan Heb. bet ’ab Household Household Household Household Household See, for example, Numbers 1 and 26

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon - Methodological Considerations Understanding Ancient Socio-Political Structures Heb. bet ’ab (House of the Father) Father God Patrimonialism is Common Throughout the ANE from at least the 3rd Millennium BC Wife King Son 1 Son 2 King Israelites Grandson Grandson Non-Israelites Son 1 Son 1 Official 1 Servants O1 O2 Son 1 Son 2 Son 1 Later Earlier (Patrimonial Bureaucracy)

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon - Methodological Considerations Understanding Ancient Socio-Political Structures What was the nature of the Early Israelite Monarchy? Bureaucratic Patrimonial Writing is Necessary Writing is Optional Public vs. Private No Concept of the Private Socio-Political Complexity = Socio-Political Complexity may/may not = Complex Material Culture Complex Material Culture Authority is Legal-Rational Authority is Charismatic/Traditional Centralized Authority De-centralized or Tiered Authority

The Early Israelite Monarchy in Text and Archaeology The Days of David and Solomon Integrating the Text and Archaeology: Jerusalem as a Case Study

Jerusalem Hebron • The Political Advantages of J erusalem – Central location • How to unite tribes under one capital? – Neutral location • How to rally tribes around a capital with no previous nationalistic sentiments? – Closer to Benjamin • How to protect main route to the central hills?

David’s Conquest of Jerusalem Temple (ca. 1000 BC) Fortress Ophel of Zion? “Millo” Western Hill Gihon “Warren’s Spring Shaft” City of David Siloam Channel Siloam Pool – 2 S am 5-6 Conquest of J ebus – What is the “ tzinnor ”? – Renames Jebus the “City of David”

11th-10th Century Jerusalem Was Jerusalem a major city? What is required for a capital?

Solomon’s Palace Solomon’s Temple Ophel Gate Temple Mount Ophel Solomon’s Palace David’s Palace Above the “Millo” • Palace of the Forest of Lebanon (1 Kings 7:1 – 12) • 13 years to build •Multiple buildings with residence and “Hall of Justice” • Phoenician craftsmen • Cedar beams • Immense masonry

Temple Mount and City of David aerial from east